{"id":334,"date":"2009-10-13T08:58:03","date_gmt":"2009-10-13T07:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hazards.org\/greenjobs\/blog\/?p=334"},"modified":"2009-11-25T13:07:50","modified_gmt":"2009-11-25T13:07:50","slug":"britain-union-%e2%80%98green%e2%80%99-reps-save-energy-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hazards.org\/greenjobs\/blog\/2009\/10\/13\/britain-union-%e2%80%98green%e2%80%99-reps-save-energy-at-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Union \u2018green\u2019 reps save energy at work"},"content":{"rendered":"

The British government acknowledged on 7 October<\/a> that employees have a key role to play in saving energy in their workplaces.<\/p>\n

In its response to the findings of an official consultation into the UK\u2019s \u2018Carbon Reduction Commitment\u2019, the government has said the assessment of good practice on \u201cdisclosure of information on energy management\u201d should include consideration of measures to \u201cactively engage employees to reduce energy use.\u201d<\/p>\n

The government\u2019s policy decisions document notes: \u201cWhere an independent trade union is recognised for collective bargaining purposes, energy management issues are considered in these joint discussions and members actively take forward initiatives to reduce the organisation\u2019s carbon emissions.\u201d <\/p>\n

A report on the Touchstone blog<\/a> on the UK national union federation TUC notes \u201ccarbon pricing kicks off in April 2010 for 5,000 of our largest service sector employers,\u00a0when the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), takes effect.\u201d<\/p>\n

It adds CRC will put a price on carbon dioxide pollution in the service industries, with incentives to cut consumption.<\/p>\n

The TUC blog adds: \u201cIt\u2019s great news for the TUC and our affiliates and reflects well on the hard work and dedication of green reps. Their work will\u00a0now be recognised in a CRC performance \u2018league table\u2019, which requires employers to tick an \u2018employee engagement\u201d box\u2019…\u201d<\/p>\n

The TUC entry adds: \u201cAs the TUC\u2019s latest study<\/a> of 1,300 green reps points out, unions are now the real green champions in the workplace!\u201d<\/p>\n

The same day the\u00a0Conservatives\u00a0said their new Green Deal to create a low carbon economy would create more than 70,000 skilled jobs.<\/p>\n

The shadow energy and climate change secretary, Greg Clark<\/a> said he hoped 3,500 of the new jobs created through the programme could be ‘green apprenticeships’.<\/p>\n